Journey lo the Galla Country. 165 
us for getting a new idea into their head, and for 
preaching the gospel. Becoming a little familiar 
with us, they commenced plaguing us in another 
way. The entire population suddenly became aware 
that they were in want of somethingy and all seemed 
to think that we could supply their wants. We found 
ourselves surrounded by a community of beggars. 
Not only were we pestered in this way by the poor, 
but the aristocracy (such as it is) also beset us. They 
came to us as though they thought we carried the 
world at our backs. Every man asked for something 
in his own special line. A Mana Chuoni (son of the 
book) came for an unwritten book, which he wished 
to fill with the magic chapters of the Koran ; another 
scribe asked for sufficient paper to write a letter 
upon ; a third begged for ink ; a fourth wanted soap ; 
a fifth a knife, a razor, or a pair of scissors ; a sixth 
a needle and cotton ; and others came for mirrors, 
beads, pice, dollars, or anything they could get. A 
good number of people begged for wine and brandy 
which, not possessing ourselves, we could not give. It 
is singular that even Muhammadans get corrupted 
by alcoholic drinks, though they take them as a rule 
in secret. They often come to us privately, asking 
in the slyest possible way if we take de vin^' or 
brandy } if they are not considered in our country as 
great medicines? if so, would they not cure their pecu- 
liar maladies } and if we have any, would we not give 
them a bottle or two } It is a significant fact, that 
the natives of the east coast of Africa, if they learn 
nothing else from our part of the world, somehow 
acquire the names of our intoxicating liquors ; and at 
the same time learn to trill, with the greatest of 
